DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY STUDIES

Faculty of Agribusiness Management

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207

OUTLINE OF RESEARCH WORK (ORW)

M. S.

Name of student : Md Murad Aun Nobe

Registration No. : 16-07463 First Enrollment: Jan-June 2021 Semester: I

Department : Development and Poverty Studies

1. Title:
Socio-economic status of fruit street vendors: a study in selected areas of Dhaka city

2. Scope / Rational of the Work:

2.1. Review of Literature
Bangladesh is a developing nation situated to the south of South Asia with large number of
people. According to the most recent census data the population of Bangladesh was
estimated to be 161.8 million. In 1960, Bangladesh contained 50.1 million. Today, the rate
of population growth is approximately 1.20 percent. Dhaka is known as the capital of
Bangladesh has seen a population increase by around 3.72 percent, up from the previous
year. It is among the areas with the highest density of people around the globe, boasting the
population of 47,400 per square kilometer in an area of 300 square km. According to
government estimates, about 1,418 people are gaining Dhaka's population Dhaka each day
and the current number in excess of 17 million establishing Dhaka as the world's most dense
city in the world.
For the poorest in urban areas street vending is a way to earn money, and it requires very
little capital and a minimum of skills even however the earnings are small. Due to the street
venders selling vegetables who are also city dwellers, it is possible to purchase certain
goods at less than what they would be paying at the market. They may also provide the
essential items on the doorstep, thereby conserving time, energy and money. It is not clear
about the number of women and men selling fruit on the streets of Dhaka.
Therefore, it can be seen that street vendors selling fruit subsidize the livelihood of other
segments of urban poor by offering their customers with low-cost goods. They are also
popular because they supply the urban population with required services that neither
municipal governments nor the bigger retail outlets are able to offer. Even though they are
in the midst of poverty, they create employment and earning income, and thus aiding our
economic growth. Therefore, street vendors are considered to be vital to Bangladesh’s
development as they provide a source of income, work and a source of service for thousands
of individuals. Rafsanul Hoque (2022) conducted a study about the perils of Dhaka’s street
vendors. From the study they found streets vendors of Dhaka are famous for offering
various items at a lower price for customers, mostly low- and middle-income families. The
vendors sell their goods at a shady shop placed on sidewalks. It is an informal business that
operates without authorization from the authorities. It is so because for any company to
operate in Bangladesh, you must get an official trade permit. The income of street food
vendors in Dhaka varies depending on factors such as the type of food sold, location,
number of customers, and hours worked. Permanent vendors who sell from consolidated
huts earn an average of 781 taka per day, which is a substantial income compared to other
low-wage jobs in the city. These vendors also have a higher overall household income and
can afford to spend more on food compared to mobile vendors. Permanent vendors have a
similar income and expenditure position as the most affluent quintile in Dhaka's slums.
Additionally, the illiteracy rate among permanent vendors is low, and their health status is
above average. It is interesting to note that none of the permanent shops, whether
consolidated or unconsolidated, are run by women (Etzold et al., 2013). Among the street
vendors in Dhaka city. The aim of the study was to clarify the real urban street
environmental situation reflected by street vendors in Dhaka city. The study suggested that,
due to the lack of formalization and weak management system, it creates difficult problems
in urban areas by producing street garbage and gathering crowd on the busy footpath. The
street vendors do business in the footpath and often they don’t even take the responsibility
to maintain the cleanliness of their surrounding environment in the city (Akharuzzaman &
Deguchi, 2010).
Roy et al. (2021) evaluated the Socio-economic status of the street garment vendors: A
descriptive study in the context of Dhaka city, Bangladesh and reveals that street garment
vendors in Bangladesh contribute significantly to the national economy, but their conditions
are very low. Only 26% of these vendors have access to clean drinking water, 9.8% have
proper hygienic sanitation, and 84% don't get proper treatment. Over 23% of them have no
education at all. Almost 50% of the vendors work 10 or more hours for their better
livelihood, but they enjoy the job. Over 60% of the respondents have family members of
more than 4 members, and it is difficult to bear the expenditure for all members, affecting
their children's education. Almost 50% of the respondents do another work after doing
vending for their better life, and 82% of the vendors work 7 days a week, hampering their
social life. 32% of the respondents complain that they are harassed by authorities and 35%
feel lack of security. Despite being 77% of the respondents enjoying their work and 74%
satisfied with their vending job, 90% feel they are not socially accepted. Rahman (2019)
conducted a study to explore the socio-economic and psychological condition of street
vendors of Barishal city: Evidence from Bangladesh and reveals that only 33.3% of street
vendors have another earning member in their family, while 66.7% have only one. 41.7% of
street vendors have incomes limited to 0-500 taka, with one third earning 500-1000 taka
daily. 8.3% of street vendors earn 1500-2000 and above, while only a few have incomes
between 500-1000. Daily expenditure for street vendors ranges from 100-500 taka, with
53.3% spending between 500-1000 and 5% spending 1000 and above taka daily for
themselves and their family members. About 58.3% of street vendors started their business
due to high income opportunities and no qualifications needed. Most street vendors have
mobile shops, while 25% have stationary shops and 16.7% have temporary stationary shops.
The majority of street vendors sell tea and coffee, with various items like fireboxes,
cigarettes, and chocolate. Some sellers carry their items on their shoulders, while others use
vans and shoulders. Fruit sellers are found in Barishal city, while 10% sell other products
and utensils. Most street vendors started their businesses through funding grants from
relatives, while 41.7% manage their capital from their own sources. In Barishal city, 63.3%
of street vendors work 4-7 hours an average day, while 36.7% work 8-11 hours a day. Most
street vendors are unable to save money from their earnings, while 41.7% of respondents are
able to save money from their earnings. Rahman et al. (2020) conducted a study about the
socio-economic condition of vegetable street vendors in Dhaka, and found that the socio-
economic condition of street vendors is very poor, with low income, saving, and poor
education for both the vendor and their children. The majority of the vendors are male, with
88.67% being female and 11.34% male. The majority of the vendors are married, have a
family, and have below SSC academic qualifications. Over 24% of the vendors and 12% of
their children are illiterate. The average daily sale is Tk. 2475, and the average monthly
income is Tk. 23435. Most of the vendors started with an initial investment of Tk. 100,000,
and 50.67% could earn profit per day between Tk. 400 and Tk. 400. Women vendors are
more vulnerable than male vendors due to poverty, lack of jobs, and a lack of unionization.
Their low income, double burden of working on the streets and caring for their homes, and
low level of unionization make them the invisible section of street vendors. Additionally,
the lack of public toilets in Dhaka has adversely affected their health, leading to various
infections and security issues for mobile women street vendors. Livelihood Sustainability of
Street Vendors: A Study in Dhaka City and found that the street vendor have limited access
to human and social assets for livelihood sustainability, possibly due to traditional family
bondage. However, their limited financial resources often lead to high borrowing rates.
Natural and physical assets are also on the down side, with overpopulation and a need for
better living conditions. Developmental practitioners and policymakers must address issues
like air pollution, water clogging, sanitation, and micro-level banking system bottlenecks to
make street vendors' livelihood less vulnerable in Dhaka city (Rahman & Junayed, 2017).
2.2. Key Research Questions
a) What is the demographic profile of fruit street vendors in selected areas of Dhaka city.
b) What are the primary factors influencing the socio-economic status of fruit street
vendors in Dhaka city.
c) What are the main challenges they face by the fruit street vendors in Dhaka city.
d) What are the solutions for the constrains of fruit street vendors in Dhaka city face.
2.3. Rationale / Justification of the Study
The socio-economic status of fruit street vendors in Dhaka City remains an understudied
aspect of urban livelihoods. Understanding their demographic profile, income sources, and
challenges can provide valuable insights into urban informal economies. This study aims to
fill the research gap by examining the vendors' living conditions, financial accessibility, and
working conditions. The findings will contribute to policy formulation, fostering inclusive
urban development, and enhancing support systems for street vendors. Ultimately, this
research will offer a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic dynamics of fruit
street vendors, enabling effective interventions to improve their overall well-being and
economic prospects in Dhaka City. This study will also be helpful to the academicians and
researchers for further conceptualization who will work in Social Studies.
3. Objective (s):
i. To identify the socio-economic profile of fruit street vendors in Dhaka city.
ii. To explore the problems and risks faced by the street fruit vendors in Dhaka city.
iii. To find out the solution of the problems faced by street fruit vendors.

4. Methodology / Material and Methods:

Research Design
4.1 Study Area
The study will be conducted in the Dhaka City of Bangladesh. Mohammadpur, Mirpur, and
Dhanmondi area will be selected based on their availability. The study will mainly focus on
their vending point and will be a convenient way to meet with them. The study will choose
the places purposively to meet the research objectives.

4.2. Sample Frame / Sampling Technique

A total number of 80 street fruit vendors will be randomly selected from the population. The
selected street fruit vendors will be interviewed to gather the required information for the
study.

4.3. Data Collection Method and Time Frame

As socio-economic data are needed for this research. The researcher himself will collect the
data by interviewing the selected respondents. The data will be collected from September
2023 to October 2023.
The measures taken will be:
 Built- in-check in the interview schedule
 Vending point checking and
 Second data will be collected from different published and unpublished sources
 4.4. Analytical Techniques
For objective 1, descriptive analysis will be used to illustrate the demographic structure and
find out the street fruit vendor’s socioeconomic characteristics. For objective 2, descriptive
analysis will be used to know the reasons and explore the major problems and risks that will
face street fruit vending. For objective 3, descriptive analysis will be conducted to find the
solutions to the problems and make recommendations to develop fruit street vendors'
microenterprise development in the study area. Data will be descriptively analyzed using
SPSS 26 software.
Techniques of Analysis:
i) Tabular
ii) Statistical Techniques

5. Plan of Work:
Activity and time frame of thesis semester (By month for the entire thesis semester):

Time period (months)

Activities
1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Literature review and other desk works
2. Questionnaire preparation
3. Questionnaire pre-testing
4. Data collection through survey
5. Data entry and cleaning
6. Data analysis
7. Draft thesis writing
8. Submission of Draft Thesis
9. Final thesis submission

6. References:
Akharuzzaman, M., & Deguchi, A. (2010). Public Management for Street Vendor Problems
in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.
Etzold, B., Hossain, M. A., & Rahman, S. (2013). Street food vending in Dhaka: livelihoods
of the urban poor and the encroachment of public space. Dhaka Metropolitan
Development Area and Its Planning: Problems, Issues and Policies. Bangladesh
Institute of Planners(BIP) Dhaka: http://www. bip. org.
bd/SharingFiles/journal_book/20140427160, 39.
Rafsanul Hoque, R. H. (2022). The perils of Dhaka’s street vendors. The Daily Star.
https://www.thedailystar.net/views/opinion/news/the-perils-dhakas-street-vendors-
3005961
Rahman, A., & Junayed, M. (2017). Livelihood sustainability of street vendors: a study in
Dhaka City. International conference on sustainable development (ICSD 2017),
Rahman, M., Mukta, F. A., & Rahman, M. H. (2020). Socio-Economic Condition of
Vegetable Street Vendors: A Study on Dhaka City. International journal of multi-
descilinary onformative research and review 1 (1), 35-48.
Rahman, M. S. (2019). Exploring socio-economic and psychological condition of street
vendors of Barishal city: Evidence from Bangladesh. American Journal of Humanities
and Social Sciences, 7(2), 1-15.
Roy, S. K., Chowdhury, S. H., Islam, S., & Siddique, S. (2021). Socio-economic status of the
street garment vendors: A descriptive study in the context of Dhaka city, Bangladesh.
Asian Journal of Sustainable Business Research, 2(2), 95-117.

Approved By:
_______________________
Co-Supervisor
Dr. Mohammad Mizanul Haque Kazal
Professor
Department of Development and Poverty
Studies
Faculty of Agribusiness Management
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka-1207
_______________________
Chairman
Fatema Sarker
Associate Professor
Department of Development and Poverty
Studies
Faculty of Agribusiness Management
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka-1207
_______________________
Signature of Student
Date: .........................
_______________________
Supervisor
Tasmia Mahmuda Chowdhury
Assistant Professor
Department of Development and Poverty
Studies
Faculty of Agribusiness Management
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka-1207
_______________________
Dean
Post Graduate Studies, SAU